ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: free2be on September 14, 2010, 08:34:04 pm
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This is a direct quote from an e-mail from Dr. Steven Chang at Stanford. It definitely indicates what was discussed somewhere else previously, that the rate of AN occurrence is much higher than it used to be.
"Acoustic neuromas are more common that 1 in 100,000. The less common NF2 version of ANs is already 1 in 40,000, and the non genetic versions of ANs that you have are at least 10 times more common than the NF2 version."
If I did the math right, that means that unilateral regular ANs occur in 1 in 4000 people. Is that math right?
I have some other stats he quoted regarding treatment complications, other serious diseases to put those in perspective, and such if anyone is interested.
Connie
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I'm not sure if you did the math right or not, but I'm a little surprised that ANs are more common than 1 in 100,000.
That's the statistic I've been hearing for 3+ years now.
Guess I'm not as "rare" as I thought I was ;) :D
Jan
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I think there is a confusion here between the rate of occurrence, which is around 1 per 100,000 per year, and the number of Americans who have one.
If the average time someone lives after getting their AN is 25 years, and the population is 300 million, you get about 75,000 people who are alive and have had one ( 1/100,000 * 300 million * 25). That works out to 1 out of every 4,000 Americans (75,000 / 300 million).
It is the per year that throws people.
The rate of diagnosis is probably going up, but I don't think there is any huge jump in the rate per year.
Steve
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I've read that the rate of diagnosis is going up because of the increased use of head MRIs for all sorts of reasons. In other words, they're finding more of these "accidentally." Who knows how many of these might have remained non-symptomatic if not discovered in this manner? On the other hand, who knows how many people have been saved more serious disability because their AN was found earlier than it might have been?
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I seem to remember the number of new AN's found during autopsies is higher than one would expect..... so I would think a small AN found by mistake would be a good candidate for W & W !!
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People (professionals) in the field have been quoting rates that vary from 1 per 100,000 per year all the way to 10 per 100,000 per year.
If one assumes a lifespan of 100 years (for simplicity) that says that over a lifespan (100 years, assumed) 100 of the 100,000 get AN, if the rate is 1 in 100,000.
Or, 1,000 of the 100,000 get AN, if the rate is 10 in 100,000.
Taking the first number, that says that 1 person in 1,000 will get an AN over a lifetime. If you have a circle of friends or acquaintances of 1,000 people (outside the Forum and besides yourself), 1 other person may have an AN.
If you take the second number, that says that 10 people in 1,000 will get an AN over a lifetime. If you have a circle of friends or acquaintances of 1,000 people (outside the Forum and besides yourself), 10 other person may have an AN. That is, actually, 1 in 100. If you know 200 people (say 200 people who came to a wedding), then 2 would have an AN -- if the second number were the one to believe...
Annamaria
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Recent (within the past month) phone conversation with the Exec Director of the ANA is now reporting that occurence is 2 in every 100,000. More are being reported, potentially due to modern scanning processes, more going to doctors to report issues to be investigated, etc.
Phyl
People (professionals) in the field have been quoting rates that vary from 1 per 100,000 per year all the way to 10 per 100,000 per year.
If one assumes a lifespan of 100 years (for simplicity) that says that over a lifespan (100 years, assumed) 100 of the 100,000 get AN, if the rate is 1 in 100,000.
Or, 1,000 of the 100,000 get AN, if the rate is 10 in 100,000.
Taking the first number, that says that 1 person in 1,000 will get an AN over a lifetime. If you have a circle of friends or acquaintances of 1,000 people (outside the Forum and besides yourself), 1 other person may have an AN.
If you take the second number, that says that 10 people in 1,000 will get an AN over a lifetime. If you have a circle of friends or acquaintances of 1,000 people (outside the Forum and besides yourself), 10 other person may have an AN. That is, actually, 1 in 100. If you know 200 people (say 200 people who came to a wedding), then 2 would have an AN -- if the second number were the one to believe...
Annamaria
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Frankly, all of these numbers and equations give me a headache. I suspect that the newly increased AN statistics (2 in 100,000) are likely valid and simply reflect, as Phyl stated, the efficiency of modern technology as well as doctor/patient awareness of this benign and sometimes exasperating skull-based tumor. 2 in 100,000 is still in the 'rare' category - so we're still unique.
Jim
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(Annamaria)
Yes, but…
See this web quote:
"Death rate extrapolations for USA for Brain cancer: 12,764 per year, 1,063 per month, 245 per week, 34 per day, 1 per hour, 0 per minute, 0 per second. Note: this automatic extrapolation calculation uses the deaths statistic: 12,765 deaths reported in USA 1999 for cancer of brain, meninges or CNS (NVSR Sep 2001)..."
Also read below the 2010 data from the American Brain Tumor Association…
BUT
My husband is a statistician, so he says numbers cannot be taken in absolute terms, but have to be taken in relative terms. So he says “Keep in mind that every sweet time we sit in a car and slam the door shut we ACCEPT that in 2009 there were 33,808 deaths, one of which could be us ... every time we slam the door to go to the soccer game, store, church, movies, see family/friends/vacation/work, etc….â€
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American Brain Tumor Association
Facts & Statistics, 2010
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Brain tumors do not discriminate. Primary brain tumors - those that begin in the brain and tend to stay in the brain - occur in people of all ages, but they are statistically more frequent in children and older adults. Metastatic brain tumors – those that begin as a cancer elsewhere in the body and spread to the brain – are more common in adults than in children.
Brain tumors are the:
- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under age 20 (leukemia is the first)
- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males up to age 39
- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females under age 20.
- the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females ages 20–39.6
The facts and statistics here include brain and central nervous system tumors (including spinal cord, pituitary and pineal gland tumors). We continually update these statistics, as they become available, at our web site: www.abta.org. This material was last updated in March 2010. We thank the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) for their assistance with that update.
These numbers address incidence, trends and patterns in the United States only. For more information, please visit CBTRUS at www.cbtrus.org.
Incidence Statistics
An estimated 62,930 new cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed in 2010 and includes both malignant (23,720) and non-malignant (39,210) brain tumors. These estimates are based on an application of age-sex-race-specific incidence rates from the 2010 CBTRUS Statistical Report using 2004-2006 SEER and NPCR data1 to projected
2010 US population estimates for the respective age-sex-race groups (estimation methodology can be found at http://www.idph.state.il.us/cancer/statistics.htm#PR).
Incidence is the number of people newly diagnosed in one year. Rate is the measure of the amount of a disease in a specific population. It is calculated by counting the number of people with the disease and dividing by the total population at risk.
In 2010, approximately 4,030 children younger than age 20 will be diagnosed with primary brain tumors, of which 2,880 will be under age 15.1
Brain tumors are the most common of the solid tumors in children, and the leading cause of death from solid tumors.2 Brain tumors are the second most frequent malignancy of childhood; leukemia is the most common.2
Although statistics for brain metastases are not readily available, it is estimated that more than 150,000 cancer patients per year will have symptoms due to a metastatic brain tumor or a metastatic brain tumor in the spinal cord.3 Metastatic brain tumors begin as a cancer elsewhere in the body and spread, or metastasize, to the brain. Primary brain tumors are tumors that begin in the brain and tend to stay in the brain.
Regarding Incidence Rates
The incidence of all primary brain and central nervous system tumors appears to increase steadily with age. The lowest incidence rate is among children less than 20 years (4.7 per 100,000 person years). The rate increases steadily until age 75—84, when it peaks at 65.5 per 100,000 person years. After age 85, the incidence rate drops to 64.2.1
Prevalence Statistics
It is estimated that during the year 2004 more than 612,000 people in the United States were living with the diagnosis of a primary brain or central nervous system tumor. Specifically, more than 124,000 persons were living with a malignant tumor and more than 488,000 persons were living with a non-malignant tumor.5
For every 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 209 are living following the diagnosis of a brain tumor. This represents a prevalence rate of 209.0 per 100,000 person years.5
The prevalence rate for all pediatric (ages 0-19) primary brain and central nervous system tumors was estimated at 35.4 per 100,000 with more than 28,000 children estimated to be living with this diagnosis in the United States in 2004. 5
Pediatric Statistics
An estimated 4,030 children under age 20 are expected to be diagnosed with a primary benign or malignant brain tumor in 2010. 1 Of these, 2,880 will be less than 15 years of age, and 1,150 between the ages of 15 and 19.
The pediatric incidence rate of 4.71 per 100,000 person years is slightly higher in boys (4.75 per 100,000) than girls (4.66 per 100,000)1.
Brain tumors are the second most frequent malignancy of childhood6 and the most common of the solid tumors in children.2 Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under the age of 20.6 Leukemia remains the first.2, 6
The majority of childhood tumors (17.2%) are located within the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the brain. Tumors located in the cerebrum, ventricle, brain stem and cerebellum account for 6%, 6%, 11%, and 16% of all childhood tumors, respectively. Tumors located in overlapping or ‘other’ brain locations account for 14% of all childhood tumors.1
Gliomas account for a significant percentage of childhood tumors:
- 55% of all tumors and 71% of malignant tumors in children age 0—14
- 40% of all tumors and 74% of malignant tumors in children age 15—19.1
Trends in incidence of primary malignant brain tumors for children in the United States using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data and a sophisticated statistical technique were evaluated in 1998.7 SEER is a program of the National Cancer Institute. It collects and analyzes information on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in the U.S. SEER data does not include benign brain tumors. The incidence of brain malignancies did not increase steadily from 1978 to 1994 as previously reported, but rather ‚jumped to a steady, higher rate after 1984-85. The timing of the ‚jump‛ coincided with the wider availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the United States.
This finding, combined with the absence of any ‚jump‛ in corresponding mortality for the same period, appears due to improved diagnosis and reporting during the 1980s.
Age-, Gender-, and Race-Specific Statistics
The incidence rate of primary non-malignant and malignant brain and central nervous system tumors is 18.71 cases per 100,000 person-years. For all primary brain and other nervous system tumors, the incidence rate is 17.44 per 100,000 for males and 19.88 per 100,000 for females.1 Rates are age-adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population.
Brain tumors are the:
- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under age 20
- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males up to age 39
- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females under age 20.
- the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females ages 20–39.6
Within the following age groups, the most common primary brain tumors are:
- In ages 0—4, embryonal/primitive neuroectodermal tumors/medulloblastomas (incidence rate of 0.95 per 100,000 person-years), followed by pilocytic astrocytomas (0.90);
- in ages 5—9, pilocytic astrocytomas (0.89 per 100,000) followed by malignant gliomas, not otherwise specified (0.74);
- in ages 10—14, pilocytic astrocytomas (0.83 per 100,000) followed by non-malignant and malignant neuronal/glial (0.41);
- in ages 15—19, pituitary tumors (1.06 per 100,000) followed by pilocytic astrocytomas (0.60);
- in ages 20—34, pituitary (2.01 per 100,000) followed by meningioma tumors (1.10);
- in ages 35—44, meningiomas (3.74 per 100,000) followed by pituitary tumors (2.69);
- in ages 45—54, meningiomas (7.39 per 100,000) followed by glioblastoma (3.73);
- in ages 55—64, meningiomas (12.48 per 100,000) followed by glioblastoma (8.16);
- in ages 65—74, meningiomas (21.27 per 100,000) followed by glioblastoma (13.10);
- in ages 75—84, meningiomas (30.25 per 100,000) followed by glioblastoma (14.49); and,
- in ages 85 and older, meningiomas (36.90 per 100,000) followed by neoplasm, unspecified (10.07) 1
The median age of diagnosis for all primary brain tumors is 57 years old. 10
Rates for all primary brain tumors combined are higher among Whites (18.89 per 100,000 persons) than African-Americans (17.14 per 100,000). The difference between these rates is statistically significant1.
The overall incidence rate for primary brain and central nervous system tumors among Hispanics is 17.73 per 100,000, compared to 17.36 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic African-Americans and 19.13 per 100,000 for White non-Hispanics. 1
Tumor-Specific Statistics
- Meningiomas represent 34% of all primary brain tumors, making them the most common primary brain tumor.1
- Gliomas, a broad term which includes all tumors arising from the gluey or supportive tissue of the brain, represent 32% of all brain tumors and 80% of all malignant tumors.1
- Glioblastomas represent 17% of all primary brain tumors, and 54% of all gliomas.1
- Astrocytomas represent 7% of all primary brain tumors.1
- Astrocytomas and glioblastomas combined represent 76% of all gliomas. 1
- Nerve sheath tumors (such as acoustic neuromas) represent about 9% of all primary brain tumors.1
- Pituitary tumors represent 13% of all primary brain tumors.1
- Lymphomas represent 2% of all primary brain tumors.1
- Oligodendrogliomas represent 2% of all primary brain tumors.1
- Medulloblastomas/embryonal/primitive tumors represent 1% of all primary brain tumors.1
- The majority of primary tumors (33%) are located within the meninges, followed by those located within the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes of the brain (23%).1
- Metastatic brain tumors are the most common brain tumor, with an annual incidence more than four times greater than that of primary brain tumors.
- The cancers that most commonly metastasize to the brain are lung and breast.
Survival Trends
In 2008, the American Cancer Society reported a significant decrease in the number of brain and central nervous system cancer deaths over the past 13 years. Deaths due to malignant brain tumors decreased 14.36% between 1991 and 2004.6
In an analysis of SEER data from 1973-2001, five year survival rates for those with malignant brain tumors showed improvement over a three decade period: 21% in the 1970’s, 27% in the 1980’s, and 31% in the 1990’s.9
SEER data from 1995-2006 shows a 34% survival rate for males and 37% rate for females.1
Children, age 0 to 19, had the highest five-year survival rate at 72% between 1995 and 2006. That survival rate diminishes as age increases, down to 5% for persons age 75 and older.1
For Whites, the five-year survival rate jumped from 22% between 1974 and 1976, to 34% between 1996 and 2003.6 For African Americans, the five-year survival rates for the same time periods increased from 27 to 37%.6
NOTE – The term ‚five year survival‛ does not mean that group of people lived only five years after the start of the study. It means the study followed them for only five years. Five years is a standard ‚goal‛ in measuring survival for most diseases.
Five year, or even ten year, survival statistics do not tell us how many people lived longer than the five or ten years of the study. Those statistics require longer-term follow-up of people diagnosed with the given disease, which can be challenging to do in our mobile society. It can be very difficult for researchers to stay in contact with patients for more than five or ten years given the frequency of American family moves.
Sources
1 CBTRUS (2010). CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States in 2004-2006. Source: Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, IL. website: www.cbtrus.org
2Ries LAG, Melbert D, Krapcho M, Mariotto A, Miller BA, Feuer EJ, Clegg L, Horner MJ, Holader N, Eisner MP, Reichman M, Edwards BK (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2004, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2004/, based on November 2006 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, 2007.
3Lenhard Jr. RE, Osteen RT, Gansler T. Clinical Oncology, American Cancer Society, 2001, p. 655.
4Legler JM, Ries LAG, Smith MA, Warren JL, et al. ‚Brain and Other Central Nervous System Cancers: Recent Trends in Incidence and Mortality.‛ Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 91, No. 16, August 18, 1999, pp. 1382-1390. [COULDN’T FIND THIS REFERENCED IN THE DOCUMENT ANYWHERE]
5Porter KR, McCarthy BJ, Freels S, Kim Y, Davis FG. Prevalence estimates for primary brain tumors in the US by age, gender, behavior, and histology.
Neuro–Oncology, In Press.
6Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2009. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. American Cancer Society. Published online May 2009.
7Smith MA, Freidlin B, Ries LAG, Simon R. ‚Trends in reported incidence of primary malignant brain tumors in children in the United States.‛ Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Sept 1998, Vol. 90, No. 17, pp. 1269-1277.
9Sundeep, D, Lynch, C. Trends in brain cancer incidence and survival in the United States: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 1973 to 2001. Neurosurgical Focus 20 (4):E1, 2006
10CBTRUS (2009). 2009-2010 CBTRUS Statistical Report: Primary Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in Eighteen States in 2002-2006. Published by the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, Hinsdale, IL. website: www.cbtrus.org.
For Additional Information
In 1990, the American Brain Tumor Association conducted a feasibility study to evaluate the status of brain tumor data collection, and to determine the practicality of starting a registry whose purpose would be the collection of statistics for both benign and malignant brain tumors. The results of that study highlighted both the need and feasibility of such a registry. The American Brain Tumor Association then incorporated the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), and provided organization and financial support to the new entity.
CBTRUS was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1992 to provide a resource for the gathering and circulating of current information on all primary brain tumors, benign and malignant, for the purposes of:
- describing incidence and survival patterns
- evaluating diagnosis and treatment
- facilitating etiologic (causation) studies
- establishing awareness of the disease
- and, ultimately, for the prevention of all brain tumors.
State or regional tumor registries obtain information about brain tumor patients
from hospitals in their area. CBTRUS began by collection information from four registries that were already collecting data on benign and malignant brain tumors. Using their preliminary data, CBTRUS conducted studies to determine diagnostic accuracy and data completeness. With the passage of the Benign Brain Tumor Cancer Registries Amendment Act (Public Law 107-260), government funded surveillance organizations in the US are required to collect data on all primary non-malignant, as well as malignant, brain and CNS tumors beginning in 2004. The data collected is used to define incidence roles of all primary brain tumors, and can be used by researchers to identify geographic clusters of patients.
Please visit the Web site of the Central Brain Tumor Registry at www.cbtrus.org. For more information or additional statistical data on primary brain tumors, contact CBTRUS at 3333 W. 47th St., Chicago, Illinois 60632. Phone: 630-655-4786.
Web: www.cbtrus.org
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TMI for me! :-)
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Frankly, all of these numbers and equations give me a headache. I suspect that the newly increased AN statistics (2 in 100,000) are likely valid and simply reflect, as Phyl stated, the efficiency of modern technology as well as doctor/patient awareness of this benign and sometimes exasperating skull-based tumor. 2 in 100,000 is still in the 'rare' category - so we're still unique.
Jim
Agreed Jim... the stats are too overwhelming for me as well (for many here as well.... not all, but many). AN's are still deemed "rare", being approx 6% of ALL brain tumors (benign and malignant), with meningiomas being the most prevelent. Summaries work for me.... I'm having a 'brain wreck" and too many stats enhance my vertigo. ;)
Phyl
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I'm with Jim, Nan, and Phyl on this one; TMI :o
IMO all the stats in the world mean absolutely nothing until they are applied to you and your own case. Life in general is basically a crap shoot - and so is AN treatment. Whether 4 out of 10 people have facial nerve damage as the result of surgery (something I just made up) quite frankly means nothing to me unless I'm one of those 4 out of 10.
My doc gave me stats on everything from my chances for a CSF leak (which I didn't have) to my chances of ending up SSD (which I am), but in the end all that mattered to me was what I personally wound up facing post op.
The stats, for the most part, were in my favor. But if I would have taken all of the stats he gave me and really examined all the possibilities, chances are I would have been "paralyzed" with fear and as a result have been unable to make a treatment decision.
Sometimes you just have to educate yourself, weigh the odds, decide how lucky you feel, roll the dice, and hope for the best.
Of course, when making a treatment decision, highly experienced, highly qualified doctors are something that should never be overlooked.
Jan
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Jan ~
Your astute comments summarize and cut to the heart of the matter (AN incidence). Some folks may enjoy pouring over statistics for educational value and that's fine (and occasionally useful) but for most of us, statistics mean little unless you're one of the people in some statistical group and then, for most, the statistics mean next to nothing because, unlike statistics, the reality of some AN-related problem is tangible and must be dealt with on a practical, flesh-and-blood basis, not in the abstract. I agree that anyone who tries to make a treatment decision based on statistics, alone, will probably never make a decision because there are too may variables to use statistics as the sole criteria for choosing a treatment. As you correctly noted; when you get right down to it, life is a risk.
Jim
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Wow, did Jim Scott just call me "astute" ? :o Where's my partner in crime, Lori, to make an amusing comment about that? ;) :D
Sorry, couldn't resist.
In all seriousness, I know that Annamaria's husband is a statistician (statistics are his life) and all this data is totally understandable - and relevant - to him. And I totally "get" that information like this is what drives him to make decisions - and to counsel those he loves to make decisions.
But, I'm just a very logical (black & white) person; not a lot of gray areas in my life - which is one of the reasons I knew I couldn't watch & wait after my diagnosis. I also have a tendency to "fly by the seat of my pants" which means I rely a lot of my gut, my heart, and my instincts. It's just the way I operate ;D
All of us look at things a little differently, and everyone obviously needs to make the best decision for them - based on what "kind" of person they are. There is no right or wrong.
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But the real question here is..... if a bus is traveling 45 mph going east on a Sunday in Oshkosh, WI and a motorcycle is going due south in Salt Lake City on a Wednesday afternoon, what color socks is the busdriver wearing? ???
Yep, that's about how much sense the above stats make to me.
I have to agree with Jan - I'm not a numbers person (oddly, she is!) It affected me and that's the only stat I can guarantee is correct.
I do know, that statistically speaking, Jan, you were more likely to be called "astute" than I ever will be! ;)
Lori
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Pirate socks, of course!! ::)
K ;D
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And when it happens to you or someone you love, only one number matters--#1.
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Pirate socks, of course!! ::)
K ;D
Mine are washed, ready for wearing for the next round of AN'ers being treated or Capt Deb and her upcoming surgery. :)
Phyl, PBW Cursed Cruise Director
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And when it happens to you or someone you love, only one number matters--#1.
Absolutely!!
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If its true that the rates are going up.
Then this is very bad news for the human race.
But I imagine if companies can come out with better ways to fix and detect ANs it won't matter in like 100 years.
My 1st thought was cell phones. lol.
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I, for one, enjoyed all the statistics. But then, math has always been my favorite subject. I did find them interesting though.
I'd like to think the higher incidence of ANs is related to the more frequent use of MRIs. The thought that my cell phone might have caused my AN is rather scary as my tumor is in the ear that I always used for my cell phone. Even now with my left ear being totally deaf, I still put the cell to my ear and then can't figure out why I can't hear anything. It's always been so much easier to hold my phone with my left hand and listen with my left ear while I wrote with my right hand. Does this mean I may have another AN in my future on the right side since I now listen to my cell with my right ear? Only time will tell.
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Well...I have to say I seem to have started quite a dialogue here. All I know is that which I quoted from a specialist in the field, and as I mentioned somewhere previously, my ENT quoted a higher number also.
BUT, this post was for FYI and I didn't mean for it to create a controversy over statistics and who wants them, and who doesn't. Whew! I thought the "community" would be interested to know these numbers and there are articles out there indicating that our ANs aren't as rare as we think...but, no it doesn't matter as far as practicality and how it effects us individually. It wasn't meant to. And, it wasn't about the treatments or complications, just incidence rates.
It is interesting to see how a conversation evolves. Kind of reminds me of the gossip game where you whisper in people's ears around a circle and see what comes out in the end compared to what was said first. Anyway...
The subject that "ddaybrat" noted of cell phone use and "the" AN ear is of interest to me. Has anyone ever taken a poll to see how this correlates. I'm afraid to start anything else at this point :o
Connie
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Connie ~
Yes, the discussion regarding statistics evolved, as threads often do but in the final analysis, as we noted, statistics are just that. They certainly have their place but can only go so far and, as we all know, statistics can be manipulated and skewed, just as a poll can, so even absolute numbers may not be able to offer the complete 'picture' in a given situation, specifically, AN treatment options.
As for the cell phone/AN issue, that has been debated here quite often. Do a 'search' using 'cell phone' and you'll find the threads. While some folks are convinced there is a connection (and take precautions) I'm a hard-core skeptic (who only rarely uses my cell phone) on that issue but I don't pretend to have a definitive answer.
Please don't be skittish about broaching 'controversial' issues. As long as a subject retains some connection to acoustic neuromas and AN patients, it is permissible, although be sure to place it in the proper forum. We're all entitled to an opinion. I've posted more than one lengthy treatise regarding the new health care law - and a few other subjects. Just be civil and factual and all will be well.
Jim
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There is no corelation to AN and the side which you use your mobile phone.
So it is unlikely to be caused by mobile phones.
Many people reporting single sided deafness in their 60's in the past were simply ignored. (thats what happens when you get old!)
If you went for a CT scan small AN's were undetectable.
MRI's were very expensive and were not ordered for patients.
Even today many AN's remain undetected as balance issues, tinnitus and some loss of hearing are still not routinely followed up with an MRI until the symptoms become worse or chronic.
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Related to the cell phone question, below is lliterally today's news as you can see at www.pubmed.gov and serching under acoustic neuroma (was published this Friday) (however, keep in mind that the news may be different tomorrow) (personally, in terms of approach to decision-making I try to rely on recently-published data good-quality data to the degree possible over other methods ...)
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Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2010 Aug;10(3):245-250.
EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (EMF).
Bayazit V, Bayram B, Pala Z, Atan O.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Mus Alparslan University, 49100, Mus,Turkey.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the carcinogenic effects of electromagnetic fields on human. There are many effects of electromagnetic fields on human such as cancer, epidemiology, acute and chronic effects. These effects vary according to the field strength and environmental conditions. There have been many instances of harmful effects of electromagnetic fields from such seemingly innocuous devices as mobile phones, computers, power lines and domestic wiring. The balance of epidemiologic evidence indicates that mobile phone use of less than 10 years does not pose any increased risk of brain tumour or acoustic neuroma. For long-term use, data are sparse, and the following conclusions are therefore uncertain and tentative.
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Annamaria
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Jim's right; there are numerous threads about cell phones and ANs on this Forum. The ANA also released some info on the theory not too long ago. Don't remember what their info said though ???
There's also another very interesting theory that involves ANs and fish hatcheries, of all things. I think Steve Gerrard led us to the fish hatchery theory. If you want some amusement, search on "fish hatchery" and read the posts :D
Like Jim, Paul W, and lots of others, I'm very skeptical of the cell phone theory. Up until approximately 3 years prior to my diagnosis, I'd never used a cell phone and when I finally did get one I used it sparingly.
I agree with Paul W that there are just more and more people being diagnosed these days. In the past I think lots of people died - from other causes - with an AN and no one was even aware of it. And as Paul W pointed out, lots of people who get up there in years end up with hearing loss and no one really thinks twice about it.
That's one of the reasons I think it's very important to have an organization like the ANA - to raise awareness of ANs (among other things).
Jan
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That's one of the reasons I think it's very important to have an organization like the ANA - to raise awareness of ANs (among other things).
In line with Jan's comments, please see this article below, from the ANA "Notes" June 2010 Newsletter regarding cellphones (oy, not again!) and their stance on this issue, with the backing of the ANA Medical Advisory Board:
Cell Phones and AcousticNeuroma
"The widespread use of cell phones and many studies on cell phones and possible associated health risks prompted the ANA Board of Directors to initiate a statement regarding cell phone usage and acoustic neuroma. This statement is endorsed by our ANAMedical Advisory Board. This is intended as a cautionary alert. This information is not intended to take the place of advice and guidance from your personal physician. You should always consult with your physician with questions and concerns. It is important to remember that early diagnosis of small tumors provides more treatment options and greater success, with the greater possibility of fewer long-term complications.
There has been much interest and controversy in the past decade regarding the possible role of mobile phones as a cause of brain tumors. The use of cell phones has become ubiquitous round the world and if they played a causative role in a disease process, even such as causing a benign tumor like an acoustic neuroma (AN), it would have tremendous public health implications.
According to the International Telecommunication Union, by 2006, 91 persons out of 100 were cell phone subscribers in developed countries. As many as 32 persons per 100 were subscribers in the developing world. There have been 25 epidemiologic studies published between 1999 and 2008 trying to examine the role of mobile phones in the etiology of brain tumors, including ANs.Most notably, a large study from Sweden by Hardell and colleagues, and a multi-institutional study involving 16 centers in 13 countries called INTERPHONE, have admirably tried to answer this important question. Overall, the best interpretation of the results of these studies does not demonstrate support for an increased risk of developing an AN in frequent cell phone users. However, the science is very suggestive that the most malignant brain cancer (glioblastoma) and a benign brain tumor of the auditory nerve (acoustic neuroma) increased in cell phone users after 10 years of use, and the effect is more pronounced in children’s brains. But the science is not absolutely positive, and research in this area is continuing.
TheWorld Health Organization (WHO) announced that long-term use of cell phones may be linked to elevated risk of some types of brain issues. The conclusion, which is reportedly still inconclusive, is derived from a landmark international study overseen by the WHO that has lasted for decades. The results, though not entirely conclusive, clearly have concerned theWHO. Dr. Elizabeth Cardis, fromWHO, is quoted as saying “In the absence of definitive results and in the light of a number of studies which, though limited, suggest a possible effect of radio frequency radiation, precautions are important.†There is particular concern regarding use by children, as their thinner skulls are less likely to shield the brain from harmful frequencies.
The Food and Drug Administration says the research “does not allow us to conclude that mobile phones are absolutely safe, or that they are unsafe.†Those who cannot avoid using cell phones may consider the advice offered by the EnvironmentalWorking Group tominimize their exposure to radiation.
Use a low-level radiation cell phone. Check out www.ewg.org for the best 10 cell phones that emit low-level radiation.
Use a headset or speaker.
Listenmore and talk less. Cell phones emit radiation when you talk or text, but not when you are receiving signals or messages.
Hold your cell phone away fromyour body.
Textmore and talk less.
Stop trying to communicate when the signal is poor. Poor signals mean your cell phone needs to send stronger signals (higher
level radiation) to the tower.
Don’t allow your children to use or play with your cell phones. Children’s brains absorb twice as much radiation as adults.
Don’t use the “radiation shield.†Radiation shields such as antenna caps or keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the machine to emit higher radiation to deliver a stronger signal."
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Thanks, m'dear.
I knew the powers that be @ the ANA released something, just didn't remember what.
Guess I'm getting old ::)
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Thanks, m'dear.
I knew the powers that be @ the ANA released something, just didn't remember what.
Guess I'm getting old ::)
yeah, you are and glad to help. :)
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Connie,
I appreciate your posting of the statistics and I know many others do too. I just happen to be one of those people who can't make heads or tails out of that stuff - after 4th grade math, it's all downhill for me! ;) But people should still feel comfortable posting things like that for those math geeks out there!
And as far as the cell phone debate - does the term "beating a dead horse" mean anything to you? Ugh!!! ;D
Lori